A circus is a team effort. Let’s face it, it’d be pretty boring with just one person. But the performance is only possible after hours of rehearsal and making sure everyone is on the same page. Each moment must be planned to ensure safety, and every performer must share the same goal to put on a great show. Just because a three-ring circus has separate acts happening at the same time, doesn’t mean those in each ring don’t share the same vision. If they were all following different directions, the entire show would descend into chaos. There must be a common plan, which, of course, must first come from the ringmaster. Guess you could say they all follow a project roadmap.
Now, not all of us are circus performers, but I’m sure we can all relate to work feeling like a three-ring circus. This may be especially true for project managers, whether accidental or not, in charge of seemingly disparate departments. In this blog series, I will discuss three benefits of roadmapping—visibility, a mirage of focus, and flexibility. Think of each one as a separate ring, but they all overlap with “roadmapping” in the middle. Without further ado, let’s jump into the first ring.
Ring 1: Visibility—See who is working on what and the progress of work with roadmapping
Think about how teams in your organization operate. Are you able to easily see what they are working on? Can you view the percent completion of their projects? If not, it’s most likely difficult to provide them with long-term direction, much less communicate these plans to other departments or executives.
In fact, 97% of executives and employees believe project outcomes are impacted by a lack of alignment within teams.[1] Further, 26% of workers cite their daily work life as a major source of anxiety, and list unpredictability as the most common source of stress.[2]
With visibility provided by ProjectPlace roadmap workspaces, you can:
- Improve performance by balancing employee workloads
- Easily set up long-term, thematic plans, thus eliminating unpredictability
- Communicate long-term strategic direction of a team, department, or organization to every level of your organization
This is great, but you may be thinking roadmapping, resource tracking, and project work can only be done in separate systems. This is a myth ProjectPlace is here to dispel. In fact, these things should be done in one system—how else can you ensure organizational alignment? Plus, when there is a way to improve visibility into each of these elements and make your life easier, why not adopt it?
With roadmapping, you’ll not only better understand the role of each individual, but you’ll ensure your organization delivers a performance worthy of an encore. Ready for the next two rings? Visit the links below to learn about the next benefits of roadmapping:
- Part 2: Avoid the Mirage with Project Roadmap Team Planning
- Part 3: Remain Flexible by Using Project Roadmaps
How are you currently handling roadmapping? Share by leaving a comment below.
Content Contributor: Hayley Eubanks
[1] Hassell, David, Forbes (2014). “Four Steps for Building a Culture of Open Communication.” https://www.forbes.com/sites/theyec/2014/10/03/4-steps-for-building-a-culture-of-open-communication/#6cb74d0361d7
[2] Schepp, David, CBS News (2016). “Workplace stress: Do you know where it comes from?” https://www.cbsnews.com/news/workplace-stress-do-you-know-where-it-comes-from/
